US-12627091-B2 - Electrical connection device

US12627091B2US 12627091 B2US12627091 B2US 12627091B2US-12627091-B2

Abstract

An electrical connection device includes a first jaw and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state. The first jaw has a first insertion surface perpendicular to an insertion direction into a connection casing, a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction, and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface. The first jaw has a first recess. The second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface. The second jaw has a second recess facing the first recess in the closed state. The first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge.

Inventors

VERONIQUE BRENCA
Imad Smirani
Xavier Rouillard

Assignees

TYCO ELECTRONICS FRANCE SAS

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221007
Priority Date: 20211007

Claims (17)

1 . An electrical connection system, comprising: a connection casing having an opening and an electrical contact arranged in the opening, the electrical contact having a pair of branches forming a pincer; and a device including: a first jaw having a first insertion surface introduced into the connection casing, the first insertion surface is substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the electrical connection device is inserted into the connection casing; and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state, the first jaw has a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface, the first jaw has a first recess extending from a first edge formed by a junction between the first surface facing the second jaw and the first insertion surface at least partially into the first surface and toward the opposite first surface, the second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface, the second jaw has a second recess extending from a second edge formed by a junction between the second surface facing the first jaw and the second insertion surface at least partially into the second surface and toward the opposite second surface, the first recess faces the second recess in the closed state, the first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge; and a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element compressed between the first jaw and the second jaw, the device is introduced into the connection casing such that the branches press on either side of the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element, a pair of ends of the branches are arranged behind the rod in the insertion direction.
2 . An electrical connection device, comprising: a first jaw having a first insertion surface introduced into a connection casing, the first insertion surface is substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the electrical connection device is inserted into the connection casing; and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state, the first jaw has a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface, the first jaw has a first recess extending from a first edge formed by a junction between the first surface facing the second jaw and the first insertion surface at least partially into the first surface and toward the opposite first surface, the second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface, the second jaw has a second recess extending from a second edge formed by a junction between the second surface facing the first jaw and the second insertion surface at least partially into the second surface and toward the opposite second surface, the first recess faces the second recess in the closed state, the first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge, the first recess and the second recess are positioned on opposite sides of the rod in the closed state of the first jaw and the second jaw.
3 . The electrical connection device of claim 2 , wherein the first jaw has an additional first recess and the second jaw has an additional second recess, the additional first recess faces the additional second recess in the closed state.
4 . The electrical connection device of claim 2 , wherein the first jaw or the second jaw has a protrusion on the first surface facing the second jaw or the second surface facing the first jaw and the other of the first jaw or the second jaw has a depression complementary to the protrusion on the first surface or the second surface.
5 . The electrical connection device of claim 2 , wherein the rod has a chamfer at an edge of the rod that is oriented in the insertion direction.
6 . The electrical connection device of claim 2 , further comprising a coupling device compressing a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element between the first jaw and the second jaw.
7 . The electrical connection device of claim 6 , wherein the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element is an electrically conductive textile.
8 . The electrical connection device of claim 6 , wherein the coupling device has a snap-fitting device between the first jaw and the second jaw.
9 . The electrical connection device of claim 8 , wherein the snap-fitting device has a projection on a side surface of the first jaw or the second jaw and a depression complementary to the projection on a side edge of the other of the first jaw or the second jaw.
10 . An electrical connection system, comprising: a connection casing having an opening and an electrical contact arranged in the opening, the electrical contact having a pair of branches forming a pincer; and a device including: a first jaw having a first insertion surface introduced into the connection casing, the first insertion surface is substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the electrical connection device is inserted into the connection casing; and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state, the first jaw has a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface, the first jaw has a first recess extending from a first edge formed by a junction between the first surface facing the second jaw and the first insertion surface at least partially into the first surface and toward the opposite first surface, the second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface, the second jaw has a second recess extending from a second edge formed by a junction between the second surface facing the first jaw and the second insertion surface at least partially into the second surface and toward the opposite second surface, the first recess faces the second recess in the closed state, the first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge, the branches are inserted on either side of the rod in the first recess and the second recess during insertion of the device in the connection casing in the insertion direction through the opening.
11 . The electrical connection system of claim 10 , further comprising a coupling device coupling the connection casing with the device, the coupling device has a snap-fitting device between the device and the connection casing.
12 . The electrical connection system of claim 11 , wherein the snap-fitting device has a projection and a hole complementary to the projection.
13 . The electrical connection system of claim 10 , wherein each of the branches has an end opposite the insertion direction with a substantially rounded extended rim.
14 . The electrical connection system of claim 10 , wherein the electrical contact has a spring closing the branches of the contact at rest.
15 . The electrical connection system of claim 10 , further comprising a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element compressed between the first jaw and the second jaw.
16 . The electrical connection system of claim 15 , wherein the device is introduced into the connection casing such that the branches press on either side of the flat, flexible, electrically conductive element.
17 . The electrical connection system of claim 16 , wherein a pair of ends of the branches are arranged behind the rod in the insertion direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of French Patent Application No. 2110654, filed on Oct. 7, 2021. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical connection device and, more particularly, to an electrical connection device for a flat, flexible, electrically conductive element. BACKGROUND Flat, flexible, electrically conductive elements are known in the art and recognized for their interesting thermal properties, for example, in the field of vehicle heating. These elements can have electrically conductive paths in the form of surface-impregnated metal layers. In that respect, conductive graphite or carbon paths may be printed by screen printing on cotton textiles or synthetic fiber materials. The conductive paths of said flat, flexible elements can emit, when powered, a heat which is quasi-instantaneous and independent of the state of a vehicle, in particular independent of the temperature of a cooling liquid of an engine. The emission of heat by ohmic heating related to the resistance of the conductive paths can, in particular, consume a power inferior to that necessary to operate, for example, a vehicle ventilation system. The flat, flexible electrically conductive elements can moreover be installed under various surfaces and evenly distribute a heat in accordance with surface geometry. Thanks to their varied flexibility and applicability, they can therefore be particularly advantageous. Thus, the use of such flat, flexible elements in the field of vehicle heating can be assimilable to a passenger comfort vector and vehicle energy efficiency. The powering of flat, flexible electrically conductive elements can entail a particular difficulty linked to a structural fragility of the material of the flat, flexible element. Indeed, the fine and flexible nature of such elements can pose a risk of deformation and rupture under mechanical stress, for example under stress of pressure forces caused by metal, electrical connectors or contacts. These risks can be amplified in vehicle environments subjected, for example, to mechanical vibrations, accelerations and decelerations, or occasional impacts. A first device for electrically connecting a textile to at least one electrical contact is disclosed in patent application FR3105615A1, enabling a solution with an opening for insertion of the textile and with said textile being extended along a body and folded around an end of said body. During its insertion in its corresponding casing, the friction of an electrical contact of the casing on the textile extended along the body. Furthermore, this device leads to an establishment of an electrical connection by the perpendicular pressure of said electrical contact on the electrically conductive textile against a bearing surface of the device. However, there is a need to further improve the long-term reliability of the electrical contact established with an electrically conductive textile. SUMMARY An electrical connection device includes a first jaw and a second jaw facing the first jaw in a closed state. The first jaw has a first insertion surface perpendicular to an insertion direction into a connection casing, a first surface facing the second jaw that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction, and an opposite first surface opposite the first insertion surface. The first jaw has a first recess. The second jaw has a second surface facing the first jaw and extending substantially parallel to the insertion direction, a second insertion surface introduced over the connection casing and perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an opposite second surface opposite to the second insertion surface. The second jaw has a second recess facing the first recess in the closed state. The first recess and/or the second recess has a rod at the first edge and/or the second edge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connection system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an electrical connection device in a closed state; FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the electrical connection device, taken along axis B-B in FIG. 2A; FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a jaw of the electrical connection device; FIG. 2D is a perspective view of another jaw of the electrical connection device; FIG. 3A is a sectional side view of the electrical connection system during assembly; and FIG. 3B is a sectional perspective view of the electrical connection system in a final state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) Below, the same references in the figures are used to identify elements of the same nature. The figures are schematic representations with the aim to be legible, which can be not to scale. In particular, the dimensions of the elements represented in a Carte